Nissa Alexander returns to Bear Paw River ten pounds and one boyfriend lighter with an attitude screaming ‘Leave me the hell alone’. The last thing she needs is her older brother, the Alpha, lecturing her about settling down and true mates. Hell, he doesn’t even have his own mate, so he has no right to talk. And then, there’s the hunky bad boy, who’s working a missing person’s case in her neck … her neck of the woods. He needs to stop sniffing around before someone gets hurt. Nissa’s heart has been trampled on enough these past few years. She is absolutely not going to fall for this lone wolf. Not gonna happen. But her bear isn’t taking no for an answer.
Zach Werner is on the hunt. But this time, it’s not for a predator or a bad guy to bring to justice. His job is to find a missing woman. Why the Florida wolf pack is paying so much money to find this female, Zach doesn’t know. And he doesn’t care. His job is his life. At least, until he meets Nissa. After a brief tangle in the woods, Zach knows this curvy beauty is his mate.
Can he convince her he’s the wolf for her and stay alive long enough to finish the job?
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I volunteered to read this book as an ARC and really enjoyed it!
This is a quick but enjoyable read. Nissa and Zach are great together, even though she is a bear and he is a wolf. They seem to fit together rather quickly and with a lot of compassion and heat. My one complaint is that it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger that wasn’t really mentioned.
HUGE EMOTIONS LIKE AROUSAL, FEAR, ANGER AND LOVE HELLP TRIGGER THE ANIMAL’S RELEASE
I am already a huge fan of this author under a different pen name, and as Everleigh Clark, she did not disappoint. Things I come to expect in her stories include some mystery, suspense, angst, playfulness and that wonderful quirkiness in her characters. She definitely included those traits in her new paranormal shifter series, along with acceptance of who her character is, and embracing that part of herself. As a series junkie, I am especially happy to see that this is part of a series but will read as a stand-alone. While the story ends nicely, it is also an intro to the next story in the series.
The plot will have Nissa Alexander returning to Bear Paw River after a devastating breakup with her boyfriend who cheated on her with what had been her best friend and roommate. She has been hiding in the city to avoid herself, or should we say her bear. Witnessing what family could do for greed and power has her running away from her bear clan. Now she has come back home to her clan, but having trouble releasing her bear again.
Meeting Zach Werner, a wolf shifter, comes as a shock. Why is a wolf in bear country and why is her inner bear screaming “mate?” Zach is a tracker and working to locate another missing she-wolf and hopefully get her back to her pack. He is also always on the search for his missing younger sister too. “I’m kind of like a private investigator for the paranormal community. My current job is to find a female wolf, like I told you this morning.”
The chemistry between Zach and Nissa comes to life on the pages and sizzles when they are together. Both are from strong family lines, including Alpha lineage. “His wolf wanted to beckon her bear forward to play with her, show her how to romp and enjoy the freedom of her animal side.” Nissa has been suppressing her bear and her Alpha brother, Bo, is determined she will get her back, and Zach has become her cheerleading squad in her endeavor. “I just want to help you find your bear again. She’s obviously still in there, waiting for you.”
What is holding Nissa back from allowing her bear freedom? Is it what she witnessed years before among family members? “I think our animal sides protect us; they empathize with what we need naturally.” “That’s because you’re second-guessing your instincts because of your human side—our animals aren’t the enemy; it’s our human side that brings out the ugly stuff like jealousy and hunger for power.”
I look forward to learning more about what will become of Zach and Nissa. His dominance of her is exactly what she needs and craves. He understands her, refuses to allow her to hide, and encourages her to embrace herself, both in human and bear form. The story has many intimate scenes that are somewhat explicit.
I really enjoyed this short story. Bearly Shifted is a steamy story of a repressed black bear shifter and a wolf shifter who has issues of his own. I loved watching them get together and watching Nissa resolve some of her problems with her other self. I am jumping into the next book now.
Loved the steamy chemistry between Nissa and Zach. The story was well written with relatable characters. Recommend highly.A story that tackles new circumstances and subjects. I loved this wonderful book.She denies her bear, her basic nature. And it takes a heavy toll on her psyche and spirit. The ultimate betrayal by her so-called boyfriend and her roommate/best friend destroy her. She builds even thicker and harder to breach walls around herself, her heart, her very soul. With nothing left, she returns home in what she considers to be shame,Zack Werner. He’s a super tracker, a wolf shifter with incredible abilities. Why his current assignment has led him to Bear Paw River is totally beyond him, But the human sides of both deny the soul-deep attraction their animal selves feel. Then, out of nowhere, Zack’s mission implodes! Chaos ensues. There are others who have deep and nefarious purposes of which no one in Bear Paw River is aware.
Book 1, The Mates of Bear Paw River. Everleigh Clark creates an amazing paranormal world with the first book in her new series!
What might it be like to live in a world so totally foreign to you that you had to deny the very essence of who you are? That’s what’s happened to Nissa Alexander, a bear shifter who flees to the big city, escaping what she considers to be an intolerable existence. She denies her bear, her basic nature. And it takes a heavy toll on her psyche and spirit. The ultimate betrayal by her so-called boyfriend and her roommate/best friend destroy her. She builds even thicker and harder to breach walls around herself, her heart, her very soul. With nothing left, she returns home in what she considers to be shame, a far cry from the woman she was when she left. Now her bear will hardly speak to her, much less allow her to shift. Her Alpha brother, Bo, is none too happy with her actions, although he gladly welcomes her back. But what’s a shifter to do when her bear turns her back on her, when she’s unable to shift? Enter Zack Werner. He’s a super tracker, a wolf shifter with incredible abilities. Why his current assignment has led him to Bear Paw River is totally beyond him, but he knows better than to question the Mother Goddess when she guides him. He has an agenda, a drive to find someone more precious than gold to him. His frustration with his lack of progress drives him to help others in the hope that the Mother Goddess will help him find what he so desperately needs. When Nissa and Zack meet quite by chance in the meadows outside town, sparks fly. The attraction is so intense that Zack’s wolf immediately howls, “Mate!” Nissa’s bear is no less certain about her feelings either. But the human sides of both deny the soul-deep attraction their animal selves feel. Then, out of nowhere, Zack’s mission implodes! Chaos ensues. There are others who have deep and nefarious purposes of which no one in Bear Paw River is aware. When those forces put not only Nissa and Zack in mortal danger, but also threaten the residents of the town, the family and friends Nissa has known all her life, what can anyone do? Can Nissa find it within herself to tear down her inner walls? Is she even capable of letting her bear out? Will Zack be able to admit his feelings for Nissa? What can he do to protect an entire town and his mate from such evil? Will anything make a difference? The cruelty and maliciousness bearing down on Bear Paw River is intent on success. at any cost. One thing is absolutely clear. Unless Zack and Nissa can pull learn to cooperate and work together, those who are so determined to destroy everyone and everything in Bear Paw River just might succeed!
Everleigh Clark is another new author for me. This book is delightful. I loved it from beginning to end. Ms. Clark writes other romances under another pen name, and this is a new direction for her. She has nailed it with this first book in this new series. I absolutely feel in love with Zack, Nissa, Bo, and every other character in this story. The emotions are gripping and real. I felt the agony of Nissa’s loss, her struggle to find herself again, and the fear, desperation, despair, hope, love, and joy of finding family and self. Zack’s an enigma I loved puzzling out. There’s nothing about this story that I didn’t love, from the constant suspense surrounding Nissa’s and Zack’s potential love to the total mystery of who’s behind the evil stalking Bear Paw River. This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and there are definitely more books coming in the series. Everleigh Clark has done a superb job of creating a totally believable world where anything and everything is possible. Kudos, Ms. Clark! Job very well done!
One final note. Please be an informed reader and consumer! This is an ADULT book. It contains explicit language and sexual scenes. If you don’t enjoy this genre, think hard before buying any book you know you won’t enjoy. There are book synopses and reviews available on Goodreads and all booksellers’ websites. Use these resources. DON’T LEAVE A NEGATIVE REVIEW WHEN YOU KNOW YOU WON’T ENJOY THE BOOK. It’s not fair to the author. She works extremely hard to provide a quality work product. If you know you’ll object to the book’s subject matter before you buy it, you’re doing yourself and the author an extreme disservice.
Thanks for reading my review and happy reading
This is really a sweet story. Nissa and Zach are really good for each other. I am pleased with the way things turned out. If you want a good PNR read this is one not to miss
I received a complimentary copy of this book and liked it enough to purchase a copy.
This was a cute short shifter romance. I enjoyed reading it immensely. The plot flowed well and before I knew it, it was over. A book to get lost in. I highly recommend if you enjoy shifter romance.
I really enjoyed this story. A reminder that if we allow other people to rule us, we lose ourselves.
This is the paranormal author I’ve been searching for – amazing series.